Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-30
TEE TURTLE Irs LAIE,
How tNe bahama Negroes ITaTvesi
tl,e Crop for New YOrh.

Tcsturrant, when il does not come from
thcIempanis Of the roast veal and fliei
G. cken of the day before, comes chief
r. from the Bahamas and from Nassau,
the only city OF the Bahamas.
They are harvested also in Cuba,
Hayti, and at many points on the
southern coast, but in the Bahama
islands they seem to find the richest
fceding-grounds, and the turtles OF
Flouthera, Cat island (Which Christie
pber Columbus discovered and called
San Salvador, Waiing island, Rum
Cay, Exuma, Andres, Grand Bahama,
AbacO, end all the rest OF the Bahama
6. cup are famous among epicures for
their turtles. 1t is said that they sup
ply fully three quarters of al the green
turtles that come to the New York
market. The hawk-bill turtle, val
liable for its shell, is also
plentiful in those islands, but it is sent
mostly TO Englard. The turtles are
ceught by vessels fitted odt for the pur-
pose by the Nassau dealers I'd also by
the poor inhabitants OF the several
islands as an Incidental aid in the -
struggle for q livelihood. These peo-
pie are picturesque race, with queer
WAYS of life, and in nothing are they
more picturesque thau in their turtle
fishing.
Circuit-Justice L. d. Powles. OF Ba-
bama island, whose experience with
both the turtle and the natives has been
ample, telling bow the amia6le and
luscious beast is captured in his neigh
boThood, says:
"These families who live in the out
islands and 90 all the turtle fishing that
is not done by the strictly business
schooners and men from Nassau, have
for a home a house whose walls are
b1ilt of col Il limestone, roughly plas-
tered together and rooted with palmetto
thatch. There are probably twelve or
fou ieen in the family, and they all live
in one little room, pretty nearl y bare OF
furniture. Nobody but papa aud
mamma rise to the dignity of bed.
The rest can sleep anywhere. When
not asleep nearly all their lives are
epeqt out OF doors. Behind the
house is some big tree, where mother
cooks and washes and father whAcFs
her and the children by turns, unless,
as occasionally happens, she is boss
ard does the whacking herself. They
have not much n, ID OF money, for they
can grow oranges, bananas, and other
tropical fruits in plenty, with corn and
sweet potatoes, and fish is to be hid
for the catching. But the out-islander
stands sometimes in need of clothes
and groceries, which have to be paid
for. As the turtles will either
produce cash or its Substitute,
he occasionally goes OF on a
turtliDg expedition. After days Of post
poning and putting of, he finally pulls
himself together, and off he goes,
pressing all his family into service.
There is not much need to close up the
house. for there are no robbers and 10
probable I'M ;udec except the hogs,
which don't count. Still he prob.bly
shuts it up, for ode look OF de ting,
for the darkey isvei 2 punctillious about
certain matters.
THE turtle beach may he many
miles away, but most likely he has
boat in which he II IMAGES , reach 1t in
the course of few hours. 81 the
party have bare feet, but otherwise ere
dressed much the same as civilized peo-
pie. External decency is one of those
matters on which the Bahamian negro |
is most scrupulous.
arrived at the turtle beach, he puts |
one of the boys in the boat and lets |
him row along it while the est of the |
party walk, keeping q shaIp lookout
for turtles. Sometimes the beach is |
ten miles long end perhaps the parry |
draw the whole of it blank, in which |
case they beach the boat and camp out |
for the night. Perhaps they have the |
luck to see monster green tu.le be-
fore they have measured h.lf the dis
lance. IL the party is IN luck and sights |
a monster femfie turtle of 500 pounds
laying her eggs in the hot sand a little
ahead, the party divides at once and
the ehattering ceases ence is
necessary element OF success. One half
Of the party make for the water TO cut
of her retreat /; the other half steal
noiselessly up and turn her on her
back--a rough job in the case OF tur-
tie as big as 500 pounds. Once on her
back she is helpless, and some OF the
other party go off in search Of palmetto
leaves or tough grass with which to tie
her fms, while the others stand round
and talk to her. jeering and making
game Of her forlorn condition, taking
care, however, to give her mouth wide
berth, for she ia still able TO bite with
considerable effect. When the others
return they cut slits in her fms and tie
them back tightly together. Thus